Time Over Time: Time Travellers, #4

By Therese A Kraemer

Book Four in the Time Travellers Series

Reece Bryant, born in the late eighteen hundreds travels along with a time traveler to 2080 and remains in the future.
Sha-Leda, a woman from another galaxy and of Roman descendant crashes her ship on Earth. Love at first sight,
they travel back to her planet where time seems to have stood still and Reece finds himself in the clutches of her father,
a tyrant emperor. The story continues in sequels, Timeless Love and Keeper of Her Heart.
Editors Note:
Many characters in this book have accents and or different speech patterns. The author has attempted to illustrate this phonically. These are not spelling errors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spangaloo Publishing
• Release date: Jul 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781501494017

Therese A Kraemer

Because I am dyslexic, I find writing a challenge, but my love of writing has inspired me to write more than sixty children’s stories, over two hundred poems and thirty-seven Romance Novels. I have also illustrated two story books used by primary teachers and students as a part of a vocal hygiene program at University of Arizona’s Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences.My credits also include four stories published by McFadden Publishing Co. in NYC. I wrote, illustrated and published two books of poetry used as fund-raisers by the Leukemia and Multiple Sclerosis organizations. I wrote illustrated and published in one book, forty-two children’s stories.I had an exhibition at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Fl of my pen and ink drawings of animals. Recently, I have had three E-Book Romance Novels and a book of short stories published on the Spangaloo.Com website and another on the Smashwords.Com website. I make my home in Melbourne, Florida where I continue to write and illustrate

Book preview

Prologue

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Foster Bryant took a deep frustrated breath and continued to stare at that damn contraption his wife brought him. He had written Sarah’s Choice and Keeper Of Her Love in pencil and Time’s Secrets with a pen, so what possessed Erica to think he’d peck away with two fingers on that thing? His son Reece had arrived to pay him a visit from the year 2080.

So, pop, have you started your next novel?

Yes, son, and thanks for the update on your life.

Say hello to mom for me.

All right, she’s at the farm with the grandkids; she’ll be sorry she missed you.

Foster sat down put the typewriter on the footstool and lit the briar pipe, grateful that Erica didn’t mind the sweet aroma of the tobacco. He was restricted to smoke only in the den, as she claimed the tobacco smoke lingered on the drapes and furniture. He went to the window that looked into the backyard seeing a blue jay splashing in the birdbath, and chirping happily. Looking up, he watched the thin clouds drift over the clear blue sky and took a puff on the pipe, fogging the window pane. The smoke blurred out the beautiful day, reminding him of the war and how the smoke from guns filled the blue skies. It wasn’t a memory he wanted to ponder.

He sat down again and dipped the pen into the inkwell and wrote the title of his next book, Time Over Time and underneath he wrote his penname, Josh Grant. He then started the first chapter. Hours later, he placed the manuscript in an envelope for his publisher, Mr. Sills. Inhaling a deep breath, the aroma of fresh baked cookies drifted into the room and he knew his wife had come home.

One

I cannot believe this!

Reece Bryant found it inconceivable that he was born in 1868 and, he now sits on a hill gazing at the heavens in the year 2080. He wasn’t unfamiliar with time travel; he just never expected it to happen to him. His mother, Erica had been transported from the twenty-first century back to 1863 during the Civil War. She was a nurse caring for his father, a Confederate soldier. His father was wounded by a time traveler, David Kish, who journeyed through time by the power of an antique watch that was now in his sister, Elayne’s possession.

Since he was a child, his mother told him stories of how David Kish had changed the outcome of the Civil War, and how she and his father were involved in making it right once more. The tales told to him when he was young never seemed real until now. Imagine, time over- lapping time through the power of an old time piece, the thought would seem impossible to anyone who hadn’t experienced it.

Reece was living the remainder of his life in the future, a choice he made when he accompanied Katch, his sister’s husband, here to rescue her from the commander-in-chief of this era. A tyrant, now dead, had abducted her to be his sex slave. Imagine, returning home from Europe finding a six-foot, four inch man in your bed, who claimed to be from the future. Imagine being told that your sister was in danger, abducted to the twenty-first century. No? Well, Reece had a hard time believing it also. But when he did, he opted to travel into the future with Katch to save Elayne.

Once here, Reece decided this was where he wanted to be. Here, so many things were new to him: Flying cars, transporters that allowed a body to go from one place to another in a flash without a vehicle. And there were androids that looked like humans, and were also known as Cyborg or RA’s, (Replica Acumen.) Female androids were willing to pleasure a man and all it cost was a precious stone, the currency here, which was easy to obtain. Also, he wanted to stay because Katch wished to stay in his era 1892, to marry Elayne. But, Reece was able to communicate with his parents through a communicator; a modern gadget. And best of all, diseases have been eliminated through the miracle of science and all wounds are healed in a sarcophagus. To him it looked like an Egyptian coffin and he had no idea how it worked. The patient would lay in it for an hour or more, depending on the injury. Wow! Who wouldn’t want to live in these times?

So into his thoughts it took a streak of light flashing through the skies and a roaring sound to snap him into the present.

So it was settled and here he was gazing at the stars missing his family. My God, a falling star! was his first conclusion and of course, so he did what any future red blooded American would do, he made a wish. When another flash brightened up the darkness, he jackknifed to his feet and ran double time in the direction of the brilliant horizon. Clouds of smoke and dust billowed upwards as he continued to jog towards the site but too much smoke made it impossible to see the object clearly. He coughed and swung his arms about as if he could root out a path. Gasping and eyes tearing from the smoke, he rubbed the palm of his hand against his lids to try to remove the soot.

Blaakk! Reece hacked and spat out a grainy foreign matter. He continued to reach out and when his hand struck something hard, he cursed; the damn thing was blazing hot. Coughing and waving his hands patiently, he waited until the dust settled. When it did and his vision improved, he gasped. My God, it’s some sort of ship!

Small lights blinked around the circumference of that thing, other than that the craft was quiet. It must have skittered over the land for miles, for the grass was flattened as far as his sore eyes could see. Was it a flying saucer? There had been rumors of such a craft in his time, but the government always denied such things existed. His mother told him that even in her era; people still suspected that there had been a cover-up by the government. She did say that a man named Neil Armstrong was the first to land on the moon. And he was not the last man.

Reece sucked in a nervous breath. Just think if this was truly a spaceship he might be the first human to bring back proof.

Suppose you’re captured, warned the little voice in his head. He was too excited and curious to pay any attention to his smart-self.

Hello! Are you hurt? he yelled but didn’t dare touch it again and waited to see if anyone would answer or emerged. Neither took place, so he waited and called out again. Maybe he should go for help. His friend, Quaiser would know what to do since he was an android and had connections with the government. Not to mention his super robotic strength and the fact that he could feel no pain. He decided to give it another try.

Hello! Reece called out once more before leaving. No answer, so he shrugged but froze on hearing a noise. Unsure if he should do an about face or run, he felt apprehensive. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to stick around; maybe little green men would emerge. Who knew what lurked in there.

His conscience was needling him again and if he were smart, he’d weigh the consequences. Crap! This was a once in a life time event. Squaring his shoulders Reece felt ridiculous, but he bravely turned around in time to see a door slide open revealing a very tall figure in the shadows. He gulped. This was worse than little men; green giants probably. Between the darkness and his burning vision, he couldn’t make out the face.

He blinked and tried clearing his throat. H-hello, I’m Reece Bryant. Reconsidering his first suspicions, he wondered if the ship might only be one from Earth, not outer space. Do you work for the government? His voice came out hoarse and more nervous than he would have liked.

Huh? was the reply.

Do you understand English?

Huh? The alien paused, its confusion apparent. Thinking the pilot might be dazed from the crash, Reece came forward to assist the person. Here let me help you. But the pilot ignored his hand and jumped down to the ground. Reece’s burning eyes had cleared enough to see he was looking into the face of a young, beautiful girl; he guessed her to be no older than sixteen or seventeen. Her hair was black, shorter than his, and she had eyes like coal nuggets; big, owlish and brilliant.

There she stood her body tall and trim; eye level, almost his height which was just a mite over six feet. She gazed back with her lids opened as wide as his. There was something uncomfortable about being able to look a softer gender in the eyes. But, he was from a different era, and the fairer sex never stared directly at a male, but lowered their lashes demurely. But then, there was something honest about that and he liked it.

When his tongue finally felt controllable in his mouth, he croaked, My goodness! I didn’t know they recruited girls to fly ships. Why shouldn’t they? This isn’t your parent’s era. Even so, he was flabbergasted.

Again she said, Huh? And her huge eyes blinked.

Are you okay? Did you bump your head? he asked concerned. It was then he noticed her strange outfit, or shall we say, what there was of it. She wore what he believed was a leather vest and what might be considered a skirt, cut way too short, but he wouldn’t complain about that. Shoes with black straps wound way up her legs to mid-calf where they were tied. Reece gulped and felt very warm in his crotch. He had barely gotten used to the way women dress in this century, but they mostly wore metallic pants or skirts only above the knees. If this is the new uniform women pilots wore, he decided he’d join as soon as possible.

My name is Sha-Leda, and I had no intention of landing my craft here; it developed a problem. Please, take me to your leader.

Huh? It was now his turn to sound confused and he scratched his chin. Do you mean the commander-in-chief, the head of the government? She appeared uncertain for the moment and then commented, If he is your leader, then yes. Her firm jaw rose a few notches as if to muster up inner strength, but Reece believed she was frightened. The skepticism in her dark eyes belied the rise of her chin. Your leader please, sir? she asked again and he detected a quiver in her voice, but he had to give her credit, she put up a good front.

God, he could listen to her speak all night, for a female she had a very sexy, deep voice. His world seemed to go off kilter whenever she spoke. Again, he rubbed his jaw, realizing he needed a shave. He missed his leather strap and razor still uncomfortable with the way men shaved here. A tiny gadget, no bigger than a pocket watch, scraped over a face did the job in an instant, preventing many abrasions and nicks.

Considering her question, he said, Well, it’s kinda late to see the general, maybe in the morning. Still under the misconception that she worked for the government, he asked, Can I take you to your home?

You have a craft? A finely shaped, dark eyebrow rose as did the tone of her voice and his brow creased in confusion. He muttered, Craft? Oh, ship, um... no.

She heaved a long-suffering sigh. Then you are unable to take me home, she merely stated the obvious.

Reece’s brow wrinkled more. Was she joking? Apparently not, she appeared serious but he still wanted to help. She rested her hand on the hilt of a knife, bringing Reece’s full attention to the fact that she carried a crude dagger low on her lovely hips; a weapon he hadn’t noticed until now. That’s what you get for looking at her shapely legs. Now you’ll lose your head over the girl! a voice in his clouded brain warned too late! Removing his nervous gaze from the threatening object, he offered, still not thinking clearly, You’re welcome to stay with my friend and me for the night, Sha-Leda.

When Sha-Leda had landed on this unfamiliar planet she wasn’t sure whether she should open the door, not knowing what to expect. Some strange alien might be waiting for her on the other side. With sweaty palms, she pushed a button and the heavy steel door opened; she nervously inhaled smelling clean air, grass, and lingering smoke. She heard the sounds of wooded land creatures and then standing in a haze, stood a form. She waited until it spoke. Speaking her language, she was relieved to discover that the creature was human. Leda did not waste any time in coming to the point, she was only interested in seeing the leader of the planet.

Now, she found this man a bit quirky but hospitable and extremely handsome. She wondered what kind of planet she had crashed on. He was a bumbling idiot who offered her a ride home but owned no spaceship. She hoped the leader was more intelligent, but she had to admit, the idiot was good looking, with nice blue eyes that were sharp and assessing.

She was curious about him, and that was normal after all, there was something really mystifying about him. For one thing: he was taller than the males on her planet where women dominated height, though men ran the government under her father, the emperor. The thought of her father brought goose bumps to her flesh; he was going to kill her for crashing their only space craft. Leda wondered if he could be trusted and hesitated a moment. Well, she had her pilum strapped to her hip just in case, and she touched it to reassure herself. This man, who called himself Reece, carried no weapons so she wasn’t frightened of him. Anyway, they were almost equal in height; she could take him in one fall or thrust her weapon to his heart, but that thought didn’t delight her much.

Although, he was a simpleton, it would be a waste of beautiful human flesh. She could see under his strange clothing that he had a muscular body; beside, his light eyes did strange things to her senses. The direction of her thoughts shocked her. She blamed that strange emotion on nerves; it wasn’t every day that a girl crashed on a strange planet.

She would take a chance, there were no other options. I will go with you, sir, lead the way.

No, not sir, he informed.

She forked her brow. No. I thought you said I could accompany you?

He shook his head in a chiding manner. No, err, I mean yes. You misunderstood me. I mean don’t call me, sir. Please call me Reece.

She rolled her eyes. A babbling simpleton, she considered and then he did something that took her unaware, he smiled. A smile so beautiful she felt her face heat, something she had never done before and she answered tripping over her tongue. Oh, um, f-fine, and please c-call me Leda.

Now who’s babbling like a brook?

She shook her head hoping to jar some sense into it when Reece offered his hand in friendship but she only gawked at it. Staring as if unsure, the young man reached out and took her hand but she misconstrued his intentions, and flipped him onto his back and then sat on his stomach.

Why the blazes did you do that? he groused.

Leda scoffed, You tried to attack me by pretending to be a friend! 

No, no, it was a gesture of good faith. A custom, his voice came out on a labored huff. I’m beginning to think you’re a little strange, and definitely hit your noggin. Please, get off. I mean you no harm," he declared. 

Leda knew she had made another mistake. She should never have sat on top of the man because he was stirring beneath her backside and she knew exactly what was happening. Never had a man affected her like this, causing strange sensations in the pit of her stomach. She wasn’t thinking straight and that never happened before either. What was it about this stranger from another planet that confused her so much? She saw that there was eagerness in his eyes and also a gentle understanding.

Stop looking into his blue orbs! Say something before....

Too late! In one swift motion, she quickly found herself underneath Reece.

They stared at each other for a while, before the man spoke. You have the most beautiful eyes and the moonlight twinkles in your dark irises. Then he captured her mouth.

Leda felt her body jolt, and then she felt her body surrender to his wonderful, hot mouth. It sent her pulse spinning. This was another thing she had never experienced in her lifetime, or dreamed of experiencing. No one dared to kiss the ruler’s daughter in fear of being tortured. At that moment, she hated her father for making her miss out on the most delicious feeling one could imagine.

Whatever are you thinking?

To her surprise and disappointment, he pulled away from her trembling mouth and yanked her to her feet. Instantly, Leda felt an unusual sadness and that wasn’t all she felt. Her voice shakier than she would’ve liked, she asked, Is this a-another welcoming c-custom?"

Sorry, he murmured, embarrassed by the huskiness that lingered in his tone. It was a lame excuse but it was the only one he had at that moment only because his brain had been turned to mush.

Why are you sorry? she asked, looking a bit crestfallen.

Well, first you can cut my testicles off with that weapon, but out loud he said, Because it wasn’t right of me. He had been mortified to be thrown so quickly and unexpectedly by a mere female. Well, a tall, mere female. But, just the same, she was a girl. Then his temper began to cool and his groin began to heat instead. Her cute, little fanny was sitting on the most in- appropriate place she could have found.

Dear Lord! He thought, if she doesn’t get up soon, she’d notice the change in my body. Notice, hell! She’d feel it!

At the time, he had no intentions of moving her but his mind and his manhood had other thoughts. Frowning, the girl paused to